Banding mechanism



Aug. 15, 1939. J. A. NEUMAIR BANDING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 22, 1952 l6 Sheets-Sheet 1 M9 wf Aug. 15', 1939. J. A. NEUMAIR 2,159,591

' BANDING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 22, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Gtforneg l5, 1939. ,1 A, NEUMAlR 2,169,591

BANDING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. .22, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. '7.

nventor MQW Aug. l5, 1939.

J. A. NEUMAIR BANDING MEGHANISM 'Original Filed Aug. 22, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Gttomeg Aug. 15, 1939. J A, NEUMNR 2,169,591

BANDING MECHANI SM original Filed Aug. 22, 1932 e sheds-sheet' 5 F1@ llfa ff ,w

lrlfll .L'j' l l I SH@ attorney Aug. l5, .1939. J. A. NEUMAIR y BANDING MECHANISM Orig/inal Filed Aug. 22, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheei'I 6 Snventor (Ittorneg Patented Aug. 15, 1939 UNITED STATES BANDING MECHANISM Joseph A. Neumair, Hollis, N. Y., assignor t'o International Cigar Machinery Company, a corporation of New Jersey Original application August 22, 1932, Serial No. 629,959. Divided and this application October 6, 1936, Serial No. 104,242

29 claims. (o1. 1314-61) This invention relates to Wrapping and/or banding machines, more particularly a banding mechanism operating on cigars or other articles. The'present application constitutes a division of my vcoi-pending application S. N. 629,959, filed August 22, 1932, and which has matured as Letters Patent No. 2,077,431, issued April 20, 1937. The invention also relates to an improved package*v particularly for cigars,y and an improved method of making such packages.

The principal object is to produce a simple yet efficient and high speedbanding mechanism designed particularly for use with a wrapping mechanism, but capable of use alone, and which ,i6 can be readily removed and replaced as a unit.

Since some cigar manufacturers prefer bands insideand others outside of, the wrapper, the bander is designed to be selectively arranged to band either'way..

Z0 One of the objects of the invention is the production of an improved band folding mechanism which does not release one end of the band while folding the other ove-r it and which retains the folded and adhering ends during movement from banding position until the band ends have firmly adhered.

With these and other objects not specifically mentioned in View, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations which will ,30 be hereinafter fully described and then specifically set forth in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and in which like characters of reference indicate the same or like v parts:

Fig. 1 is a sectionalr side elevation of the entire 'banding mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the same;

FigfS is a front elevation of the banding mechanism taken on line 9-9 of. Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional end elevation of the moistening device taken on line Illl0 of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the bander magazine;

Figs. 6, 7, 9 to 12-and 14 and 16 are detailed views in elevation of the operating parts in different positions, showing the successive steps in the operation of the banding mechanism;`

Figs. 8, 13 and 15 are detail plan views of the .fue preceding; and

Fig. 17 is a detail View of the conveyor chain. Fig. 18 is a sectional side elevation of the transfer from the first conveyor or bander chain to the wrapper chain; Fig. 19 is an end elevation of 55 the same taken on the line |S-I9 Of Fig. 18-A The various means referred to below may be varied widely in vconstruction Within the scope of the claims, for the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible concrete embodiments of the same. The invention therefore `is not to be restricted to the precise details shown and described.

The bander provides in combination Withv va band magazine, a moistener, band applying device, a rotating suction unit and means for oper- 10 ating said unit to Withdraw a band from the magazine, carry it to the moistener and from there to the band applier.V Preferably said operating means includes mechanism for giving said unit a reciprocating movement toward and away l5 from said magazine to Withdraw a band therefrom andto move a band thereon into contac with the article to be banded.

Intermittently driven conveyor chains |32 (see Figs. 17, 18 and 19) are` provided with sets of 20 grippers 2|3 and 2|4 pivotally mounted thereon and held against the sides of cigars inserted therebetween by tension springs connectingY the same. The conveyor chains move successive cigars into the range of action of the banding 25 mechanism and then dwell While the band is-applied. The banding mechanism is slidably supported by a bracket 254 (see Figs. 1 and V3) mounted to the rear frame of side frames IUD. To bracket 254 is attached the housing A255 car- 30 rying and enclosing the drive of the banding mechanism. The latter is driven through a chain 251 driven from a shaft (not shown) and running over a sprocket 258 mounted'on shaft 259 supported by bearings in bracket 254 and housing 55 255. The shaft 259 carries a bevel gear 26|) meshing with a bevel gear 26| lmounted. on .a vertical shaft 262. This shaft also carries a spiral gear 263 meshing with another spiral gear 264 on shaft 265 supported in bearings of the 40 upper part 266 of housing 255.

To intermittently rotate the bander turret, a gear 264 (see Fig. ll) isl equipped with a roller 261 actuating a Geneva Wheel 268 mounted on shaft 269 carrying a gear 21D meshing with a .45 gear 21| loosely mounted on shaft 212. To the latter is fastened a turret housing 213 supporting the turret shaft 214 to which is mounted the bander turret 215 for intermittent rotation. The turret shaft 214 carries a gear 216 which is actuated through an intermediate gear 211 from gear 21|.

To give the turret movement, in addition to its rotation, to and from the band magazine and cigar, the housing 213 receives vertical recipro- Veating' or rocking motion from shaft 212 being Va stationary air regulating head 284 which.. is

connected by means of a tube 285 (Fig. 1) to a standard suction pump (not shown). Thefregulating head 284 is so constructed and/set that it connects only three of the four airY channels y282 of turret 215 because only three arms of turret 215 carry on their suction heads bands B to be applied to the cigar C, Flg. `8. The fourth arm from which the band B is taken again receives suction when it arrives underneath the bander magazine 286 to Vtake another band B.

The band magazine 286 is provided with side walls which are adjustable to different sizes of bands by means of conical thumb screws 281. The 'band magazine is adjustably supported by a bracket 288 secured to the housing 266.

A band moistening device (Fig. V4) is provided for moistening the standard cigar bands which are gummed on one end, while the turret unit retains the band B on theband retaining arms iirst'stop after leaving the magazine 286 where the gummed end is moistened.l The moistening `device consistsv ofk a moistening wheel 289 equipped withY a Vfelt ring 290 which'is moistened by the Water M stored in a moistening po-t 29|, which is adjustably held by a bracket Y292 Vfastened Vto main frame|00. The moistening wheel Y289 is clamped toa shaft 293 supported by a bearing 294 of moistening 'pot 29|'. On the shaft 293 is mounted a ratchet 295 operated from a pawl 296 hinged to lever 291 which is fastened Y, oted to stud 302 secured to housing 266.

to shaft 298'supported in bracket 292. VOn the shaft ,298 Vis mounted a lever 299connected through a rod 300 to a bell crank leverV 30| piv- The bell crank lever 30| is equipped with a roller 303'which is in engagement'with a cam` 304 mounted on shaft 265'. The cam 304 gives. a rockir'igy motionrto the bell crank lever 30| which also rocks pawl 296 thereby turning moistening wheel289 and preventing the same from getting dry on the upper part.

In order to lbe assured that the gummed end of the band B isV well moistened, a lever 305 presses the gummed end of the band B gently against the moistened felt ring 290 (Fig. 8). The lever 305 is pivoted toVV a stud 306 and is 'equipped with a gear segment 301 engaging with another segment 308 which is mounted on shaft 2790, transmitting rocking'motion received from cam 304 to lever'305.

On the next`turn of the turret 285 the moistened Vband is taken to a position adjacent the -cigar C which is conveyed by the' chains |32.

The turret 215 places the band B as a result of the reciprocating movement referred to, against Y the top side of cigar C and holds it there by suction and pressure thereby preventing displacement of the cigar during the folding of the band.

to avertically sliding plate 3|| slidably mountedY in the front part of housing 266. The sliding plate 3|| is equippedrwith a lug3|2 carrying studv3|r3 to which isconnected a link 3|4 piv'- otedto cam lever 3|5 having roller 3|6 which .alever 320 carrying roller 32|.r

engages in cam track 3|V1 of cam 28|. Cam lever Y 3| 5 is pivoted with a stud 3|8 to housing 266. Cam lever 3|5 transmits its up and down motion to sliding plate 3|| which controls the up and down motion of folding iingers 309 and 3|0'. The latter are in engagement with eachy other by means of gear segments (Fig. 3) andtherefore move equally. Finger 399 is equipped with plate 3|| is in its upmost position, (Fig. 7)', roller 32|r rides against the stationary cam plate 322 thus Vcausing fingers 309 and 3|0 to openi The latter are connected by a tension Yspring'f-323 to assure good control of the roller 32| against cam plate 322 held by studs 324 to the housing 266 and to assure a light, yielding pressure on the. cigar regardless of size, the actual engagement with the cigar being by spring pressure alone.

Thus, while the mid portion ofthe band B is securely held between the turret 215l and the cigar C, the fingers 309 and 3|0 move downward by the sliding plate 3| and layV the band smoothly over the side of the cigar'(Fig'. '3) j Theiroller 32| is then free and the fingers 309 and 3|0 are held together by the spring 323 to exert resilient` pressure on the sides of the cigar and remain in this position until the bottom fold of the band B is made. This is important because it prevents any bulging of the V,sides or upper corners during laying of the band ends.

The first bottom -fold or laying of the band end is made by a pair of bottom fold ngers 325 (Figs. 12 and 13) which are pivoted in a scissorlike manner to a guide plate'326 by means of -pins 32T (Fig. 13).

The guide plate 326 is pivoted to a stud 328 supported by plates 329 mounted to a guide head'330 slidably mounted onguide rods '33| held by bracket 332 attached to housing 255. Guide head 330 is'equippe'd7-1with a gear rack' 333 operated from a gear seg-ment 334y mounted on shaft 335 carrying anotherv gear segment 336 (Fig. 1) meshing with a gear segment 331 pivoted on stud 338 supported by hous ing 255. Gear segment 331 is equipped with a cam lever 339 engaging with a roller 340fin. one

cam track of double cam 34| mounted `onfshaft 259. The above serves to give the iingervmove-y 326 and guide head 33|! presses fingers 325 firmly When sliding` Arm 342 is equipped Vwith aY roller 343, ,which rolls over a hump 3 44 onY bracket 332. rAs soon as roller 343 leaves hump 344, a spring 345 mounted between Vguide plateV against the cigar C (Fig. 12) and assures a- ,tight fold of the band Bi.

It Will be noted that spring pressure valone pressesy finger 325 against the cigar so it can t itself to irregularities of the cigars. As soon as the first bottom fold is made a folding roller or band end laying element 346 (Fig. l2) v advances towards the cigar C and folds or lays the kother Vend of the band 'B o-ver the first foldedrend, (Fig.

14). The folding roller 346 is pivoted onffastud 341 supported by a forked guide shoe 348 pivoted by' means of stud 349 to a supporting block 350 (Fig. 12), mounted on a guide head35l, slidablyy supported by guide rods 33| and equipped with a gear rack 352 operated from a gear segment 353 mounted on a sleeve shaft 354 having another gear segment 355 (Fig. 1) meshing with gear segment 356 pivoted on stud 33B. The segment 356 is equipped with a cam lever 351 engaging with roller 358 in the other cam track of double cam 34|. Between supporting block 350 and guide head 35| is mounted a wedge shaped separating plate 359.

When the roller 346 advances toward the cigar C, the prow of cam plate 359 enters between two pins 360 mounted on fingers 325, which cause the latter to spread apart (Fig. allowing just enough room to admit the roller between fingers 325 while the edges of the latter will still be holding the first folded end against the cigar. The roller 346 rolls the moistened gummed end ofl the band B over the rst fold thereby sealing the band. In order to assure a good tight fold the guide shoe 343 supporting roller 346 is equipped with a spring 36| so that roller 346 will resiliently press the band firmly against the cigar C. By this means also the roller may yield to irregularities of the cigars. In order to assure the correct position of pins 360 against the prow of wedge shaped plate .359, fingers 325 are equipped with a spring 362 which also causes fingers 325 to close again upon the retreat of wedge plate 359. In order to keep fingers 325 parallel to guide block 326 a guide pin 363 is provided.

During the folding operation just described, the side fold fingers 309 and 3|0 remain in their closed position on the cigar; but as soon as the bottom fold is completed, fingers 309 and 3|0 release the cigar (Fig. 14) and move upward. The releasing of fingers 309 and 3|0 while in their lowermost position is caused by a star cam 364 (Figs. 2 and 14) mounted on turret shaft 214. A slight turn of the turret (see dotted position in Fig, 10) causes the engagement of star cam 364 with roller 365 on lever 320. Then turret 215 and fingers 309 and 3|0 on plate 3|| moveupward together to a position at which the other roller 32| on lever 320 engages with stationary cam plate 322. Turret 215 then resumes its rotation and star cam 364 leaves roller 365 and the fingers 309 and 3|0 are now held by roller 32| and cam plate 322.

Aft-er the band B is folded around the'cigar C, conveyor chain |32 (see Fig. 17) continues its intermittent cigar forwarding movement and while fingers 325 go back to their original position, roller 346 remains on the band following the movement of the cigar for this purpose, and guides the cigar until it reaches the stationary guide plate 366 (Fig. 6), mounted on a lug of housing 255. As the cigar leaves banding position the band is guided and held on the cigar between the lower guide plate 366 and a leaf spring upper guide 351 to prevent looseningy or springing up of the band ends and to give time for drying of the seal. The spring guide 361 is adjustably mounted on a bracket 368 fastened to housing 266. Y

The banded cigar C is then conveyed to a transfer device, (Figs. 18 and 19) where the cigar is transferred from the conveyor chain |32 in which the cigars were gripped during banding to a wrapper chain consisting of a number of individual pockets traveling intermittently in synchronism with the band-er chain |32.

The chain |32 carries the cigar to one banding position where the banding operations are 'carried von while ithe cigar is`securely held towards either end by the laterally spaced gripper lingers 2| 3 and 2|4 (see Fig. 17). The suction band turret 215 is given a bodily movement up against the bands in a magazine and then downwardly to withdraw a band and also to bring a 'band on the diametrically opposite turret arm into position 'on top of the cigar. A pair of flexible but pivoted and spring pressed fingers 30,9 come down along the radially extending turret arm, spaced apart more than the width of the cigar to pass the corners thereof. Then the 1ingers come together and lightlyV press toward the centerof the cigar while continuing to move downwardly to fold the band. This results in a frictional sliding contact with the band and pulls the band tightly over the top and corners of the cigar, holding the band tightly folded over three sides of the cigar while the downwardly extend- -ing band ends are laid one over the other.

The band ends are folded against the bottom of the cigar by two fingers 325 and 348 one of which is split and moves rst acrossV the bottom ofthe cigar to lay one end and the other of which moves between the split portions to lay the other end while the split portions securelyhold down the rst end. This second finger travels with the cigar when it is indexed to the plate 366 to hold the band closed till engaged by the plate, acting as a bridge between bandingl position and the edge of the plate. 'I'he cigar is then transferred from the chain to the pockets of a wrapping chain, the cigar during the transfer being pushed into a sheet of wrapping material previously fed between the cigar and the pocket. However, the banding mechanism is a single unit which can be readily detached and replaced on another base where it will band after instead of before wrapping.

The transfer to the wrapper chain (Figs. 18 and 19), is supported by a bracket 369 mounted on a bearing bracket 310 supported by the frame. The supporting bracket 369 carries the two Vertical guide shafts 313 to whichV is slidably mounted the transfer head 314, which is actuated through a link 315 from a suitable part of the mechanism.

The transfer head 314 carries a cam piece 383 (Fig. 18) actuating a roller 384 pivoted to a stud 385 supported by fork 386 to which is fastened a rod 361 slidably supported by a guide bearing 388 pivoted to stud 389 mounted in lugs 390. Rod 381 is equipped with a` tension spring 39| placed between guide bearing 390 and fork 386 thereby pressing roller 384 towards cam piece 383. The fork 383 carries another horizontal shaft 392 to which are pivoted bell crank levers 393 pivoted to studs 394 mounted to lugs of the side frames (not shown). 314 also carries on pivots 395 a pair of supporting levers 396 equipped with studs 391 to which are pivot-ed cigar gripping fingers 398 having each a lug 399 to which is pivoted a guide roller 400. These guide rollers are in constant engagement with a vertical camming and elevating shaft 40| slidably supported in transfer head 314. The engagement of rollers 400 with sliding shaft 40| ,is produced by a spring 402 mounted between fingers 398.

The distance between the two clamping nngers 398l can be adjusted to suit the diameter of the cigar by means of adjusting screws 403 placed in supporting levers 396. To the top part of shaft 40| is fastened a lifting plate 404 for engaging and elevating the cigar. The bottom The transfer head -part'carri-es a fork 405 through which shaft 40| is operated by a rod 406. y Y

While the conveyor 'chains |32 which carry the banded cigars C, are' in motion, the transfer head 314`is in its lowermost'position (Figs. 18 and 19),V

soV that the cigar can pass over clamping fingers 398 and lifting plate 4 04; In this lposition roller 384 is held back by cam piece 383 causing bell crank levers 393 to; be out of the way of rthe grippers on chains |32. As soon as the chain |32 stops'its movement transfer head 314 goes upward causing roller 384 to leave cam piece 383. The rod 381 goes forward due to the tension of spring 39| thereby actuating bell crank levers 393 in such a'way that the upper free parts press" against the extending ends 2|1 of the U shaped gripper'ngers 2 I3 and 2|4, the gear seg-V ments2|8 of which are in engagement with gear segments' 2|9 thereby opening the grippers. In

the meantime, shaft 40| 'has come up and met f with its lifter plate 404, the cigar C. The clamping fingers 398 have also moved upward with the transfer head 314 and the rollers 400 in engagement with shaft 40| have left the lower thick part of the same and inmaking contact with the upper thin part Yof the shaft 40|, causes 'clamping 1inge'rs'398 to close and clamp the cigar C which then is transferred into the pockets of the wrapper chain, between walls 429.

Y' It will be noted from V'the above (and Fig. '7) that during this transfer there is at all times a positive grip on ,the cigar. Even at the-moment when the wrapper pocket walls 429 open to re- Y ceive, and transfer fingers 398 open to release,

the'cigar, said cigar is securely gripped from above and belowV vby plunger 404 and tension the magazine and carry it Yto said applying devices, said applying devices including a pair of folders'movable'astraddle the cigar torcontact the band and ,slide across opposite sides of the cigar tofo'ld the band against said sides.

2; The 'combination with a band-magazine, of band applying devices, a rotating bandV carrier, having spaced projecting band-retaining parts forming a xed part of said carrier, and means operating said carrier to withdraw a. band from the magazine and carry it to said applying devices, said'applying devices includinga pair of folders movable astraddle the cigar to' contact the. band and slide across opposite sides of the cigar, to fold and'then hold the band against said sides, and

means for laying the ends of the band one over the other' while said folders are holding the side folds.Y

3. TheV combination with a band magazine, of band applying devices, a rotating band carrier, and means'o'perating said carrier to withdraw a band' from the magazine ,and carry it to'said applying'dvices,"said carrier'h'aving spaced' projecting Vsuction` band retaining parts forming a xed part of said carrier.V

Y V4. The combination with .a band magazine, of band" applying devices, a rotating band carrier, and means operating said carrier to withdraw a band from then magazine and carry' it' to said applying devices, said carrier having spaced projecting suctionV band retaining parts and said means including mechanism giving said carrier tending part for holding a band against the cigar, 1

and said devices including a pair of folders on each side of said part movable radially thereof into engagement with the band, and means stationary relative to the Vunit for supporting said folders` in spaced relation to permit rotary movc- Y ment of said part betweeny the same.

6. The combination with a band magazine, of

band applying devices, a rotating band carrier,

'and means operating said carrier to withdraw-a band from the magazine and carry it to said applying devices, said rotating carrier having diametrically opposed band retaining devices, and said means including mechanism for giving the axis of said carrier a movement toward a cigar to Withdraw one band from the magazine with one retaining device while moving another bandV to the cigar with the other retaining device. l

7. The combination with a band magazine, of band applying devices, a rotating band carrier, and means operating said carrier to withdraw a band from the magazine and carry it to said applying devices, said carrier having ar radially extending part having a peripheral face for holding a band against a cigar, and said devices including a pair of folders, one on each. side of said part movable radially thereof into engagement'with the band."

8. The combination with a band magazine-of band applying devices, a rotating band carrier,

and means operating said carrier to withdraw' aV band from the magazine and carry it to said 'applying devices', said .operating means including mechanism for giving the axis of said carrier bodily movement toward and' away from said magazine. 'y V 9. The combination with` a band magazine, of

band applying devices, arrotating band carrier, f

and means operating said carrier tofwithdraw a band from the magazine and Ycarry* it to'said applying devices, a support for'ho'lding a'cigar in the range of action of said devices, said means including mechanism Vfor giving saidY carrier bodily I movement to move a band thereon into contact with a cigar on said support. Y Y

10. The combination with a band magazine, of band applying devices, a rotating band carrier, and means operating said carrier to withdraw a band from the magazine and carry it to said applying devices, said operating means including a pivoted .arm rotatablysupporting said carrier, and

Ymechanism for oscillating Ysaid arm to give the axis of said'carrier. movement toward and away from said magazine. M f Y 11. In a cigar banding machine, the combination with .a cigar support, of means for locating a band across the'cigar, a pair of folders, means for moving said folders toward the cigarV andftogether to straddle the same and fold and press the b-and against the sides ofthe cigar, said devices including intermeshing gear segments connecting said folders for equal and opposite movement. t

12. Ina cigar banding machine, the combina'- tion with-means for supporting a cigar, of mechanism for wrapping Va band about three sides of the cigar with the ends outstanding, and 'means for laying said ends one over the other, comprising a first folder movable transversely of the cigar to lay one end of the band against the cigar, a second folder movable in the opposite direction to lay the other end of the band over the first laid end, one of said folders being split, and means for parting the elements of the split folder to admit the other folder between them, while said split folder continues to hold the band end against the cigar.

13. In a cigar banding machine, the combination with means for supporting a cigar, of mechanism for wrapping a band about three sides of the cigar with the ends outstanding, and means for laying said ends one over the other, comprising a first folder movement transversely of the cigar to lay one end of the band against the cigar, a second folder movable in the opposite direction to lay the other end of the band over the first laid end, one of said folders being split, and means for parting the elements of the split folder to admit the other folder between them, said folders being provided with coacting cam elements t part the split folder parts.

14. In a cigar banding machine, the combination with means for supporting a cigar, of mechanism for wrapping a band about three sides of the cigar with the ends outstanding, and means for laying said ends one over the other, comprising a rst folder movable transversely of the cigar to lay one end of the band against the cigar, a second folder movable in the opposite direction to lay the other end of the band over the first laid end, one of said folders being split, and coacting means on the two folders for parting the split folder to admit the other folder, said means comprising a prow shaped cam traveling with the unsplit folder, and means on each of the parts formed by the split folder arranged to be engaged by the cam passing between them to separate said parts.

15. In a cigar banding machine, the combination with means for supporting a cigar, of mechanism for wrapping a band about three sides of the cigar with the ends outstanding, and means for laying said ends one over the other, comprising a first folder movable transversely of the cigar to lay one end of the band against the cigar, a second folder movable in the opposite direction to lay the other end of the band over the rst laid end, and means for directing one of said folders downwardly from the cigar prior to passing the corner thereof.

16. In a cigar banding machine, the combination with means for supporting a cigar, of mechan ism for wrapping a band about three sides of the cigar with the ends outstanding, and means for laying said ends one over the other, comprising a first folder movable transversely of the cigar to lay one end of the band against the cigar, a second folder movable in the opposite direction to lay the other end of the band over the first laid end, and a spring arranged to urge at least one of said folders against the cigar and a cam engaging an element on said folder in opposition to said spring to hold said folder away from the cigar as it clears the corner thereof, said spring operating to resiliently press the folder against the cigar during a remaining part of said transverse movement.

17. In a cigar banding machine, the combination with a band magazine, of a moistener, band applying devices, a rotating suction unit and means for operating said unit to withdraw a band from within the magazine and carry it to the moistener and then to the range of action of said applying devices to 'hold the band during at least part of the operation of said devices, said applying devices including means for wrapping the band around the cigar and lapping the ends.

18. The combination with band applying means, of devices for rendering said band adhesive and a band turret having band retaining means, a band magazine, mechanism for operating said band turret to remove a band from said magazine, move it to a position where it is rendered adhesive by said devices and thence to said banding position where the band is retained by said turret, said mechanism acting to intermittently rotate said turret, and said applying means having folders for folding the band about the cigar during a dwell in the rotation of said turret.

19. In a banding machine, the combination with a band magazine, of a cigar support, a plurality of spaced band retaining devices mounted for rotation about a common axis, means operating said devices to rotate the same from a position adjacent the magazine to a position adjacent the cigar support, and means for giving the said band retaining devices a movement independent of said rotation toward and away from the magazine to retain and withdraw a band, and mechanism for partially wrapping the band about the cigar on said support while the band is still retained by said device.

20. In a cigar banding machine, the combination with a support for a cigar in banding position, of a band magazine, a rotary band conveyor having means for retaining a band thereon, means for giving said conveyor a to and fro movement toward and away from the band magazine to engage and remove a band, means for rendering the band adhesive, and means for rotating said conveyor to a position where the band is rendered adhesive by said means and then to said banding position.

21. The combination with an endless chain having opposed grippers thereon for gripping and transporting a plurality of cigars sidewise and along a straight line, of banding means coacting with said grippers to wrap bands in succession each around an individual cigar, and to lap the ends of each band, while the cigars remain in said grippers on said chain, said banding mechanism operating at a region of the cigar removed from said grippers, and including devices to compress the band in its applied position independently of said grippers.

22. The combination with a machine frame, of a cigar conveyor on said frame for conveying cigars sidewise and along a substantially straight path, of a banding unit cooperating with said conveyor to band a cigar thereon, said banding unit comprising a frame to one side of the conveyor, detachably secured to the conveyor supporting frame, means projecting laterally and .downwardly from said frame to operate to act on a band on the cigar from above, mechanism projecting laterally and upwardly from said unit frame to operate on a band on the cigar from the underside thereof, and operating devices connected both to said means and mechanism secured to said unit frame.

23. In a cigar banding machine, the combination with devices for intermittently advancing a cigar, of mechanism for rendering one end of a cigar band adhesive and wrapping it about three sides of a cigar in the range of action of said devices, means for lapping the ends of the band on the fourth side of the cigar including a folder for acting upon the last folded end of the band, and mechanism operating during advance of the cigar after completion of the end lapping operation to give said folder a movement With the cigar to hold in position the freshly sealed band ends during part of said advance.

24. In a cigar banding-machine, the combination with a cigar support, of a band holder, a rotating band carrier including means for transferring a band from said band holder to a band applying station, means for transferring a cigar on said support to said station, and band applying devices including a pair of folders, means for moving said folders toward the cigar and together to vstraddle the same 'and fold and press the band against the sides of the cigar, said folders comprising inflexible fingers, and said means including mechanism operating to cause the fingers to continue their folding movement after said 1ingers have moved together to press the ksides of the cigar, and devices for lapping the ends of said band while said fingers press said sides.

25. In a cigar banding machine, the combination with a cigar support, of a band holder, a rotating bander turret including means for transferring a band Vfrom said band holder to a band applying station, means for transferring a cigar on said support to said station, and band applying devices including'a pair of folders, means for moving said folders toward the cigar and together to straddle the same and fold and press the band against the sides of the cigar, said folders comprising inflexible fingers, and means including mechanism yieldingly moving said fingers together, and positive means for controlling Y'the extent of the said movement of said fingers together.

- 26. In a cigar banding machine, the combinav tion with a cigar support, of a band holder, a

rotating bander turret including means for transferring a band from said band holder to a band applying station, means for transferring Ya cigar on said support to said station, and band applyt ing devices including a pair of folders, means for freshly'V sealed ends until firmly adhered,

27. In a cigar banding machine, the combination with means forsupporting a cigar, of mechanism for Wrapping a band about three sides of the cigar with the ends outstanding, and means for laying said ends one over the other, comprising a first folder movable transversely of the cigar to lay one end of the band against the cigar, a second folder movable in the opposite direction to lay the other end of the band over the first laid end, devices for urging at least one of said folders against the cigar as it moves transversely thereof, and means for then giving said transversely moving folder a movement away from the partially banded portion of the cigar prior to passing the corner thereof. Y

28. In a cigar banding machine, the combination with means for presenting cigars seriatim in a banding position, of a bander operating to apply a band to each of said cigars successively at said banding position, a table, and devices beyond said table for operating further upon said banded cigars, said means transferring each of the cigars in its turn from said banding position over said table to said devices for acting further upon the banded cigars, said means having members operating to maintain a positive grip on each cigar as it is brought to said banding position and at all times thereafter until and including delivery on said table.

29. In a cigar banding machine, the combination with a support for the cigar, of means for positioning a hand adjacent to the cigar, a pair of'band folders, means for moving said folders against the band and astraddle the cigar to bend the band about the cigar, mechanism for lapping and sealing the ends of the band beneath the underside of the cigar, and for holding the and devices for separating said Vfolders While said sealed ends'are so held by the lapping and sealing mechanism, thereby freeing each cigar from restraint by the folders after it is banded, and; means to grip and hold said cigars independently of said folders. Y

JOSEPH A. NEUMAIR. 

